Combined Overweight Research Articles

Dietary Practices and Adolescent Obesity in Secondary School Learners at Disadvantaged Schools in South Africa: Urban-Rural and Gender Differences.

South Africa has a high prevalence of obesity in black female adolescents and a paucity of knowledge regarding contributing dietary practices. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary practices and weight status of male and female adolescents at secondary schools in the Eastern Cape province in urban and rural areas. Sixteen schools and grade 8–12 learners (N = 1360) were randomly selected from three health districts comprising poor disadvantaged communities. A short unquantified food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data on learners’ usual eating practices with regards to weekly meal pattern, breakfast consumption, foods taken to school, takeaways, and snacks eaten while watching television (TV). Body mass index measurements were determined for each learner. Prevalence of combined overweight and obesity differed significantly between genders, 9.9% in males versus 36.1% in females (p < 0.001). Significant gender differences were noted regarding eating practices. Females had a higher frequency of eating sugary snacks (p < 0.001) and a lower frequency of eating breakfast (p < 0.01) than males. Females ate significantly more fried fish (p < 0.05), pizza (p < 0.05) fat cakes (fried dough balls) (p < 0.05), hotdogs (p < 0.01), candy (p < 0.001), cake (p < 0.01), and crisps (p < 0.001). Compared to urban areas, the frequency of eating breakfast (p < 0.01) and sugary snacks (p < 0.05) was significantly higher in rural areas. Significantly more learners in urban areas consumed boerewors (beef sausage) rolls (p = 0.027), hamburgers (p = 0.004), and soft drinks (p = 0.019), while more learners in the rural areas consumed cordial (p = 0.001). In conclusion, a high prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was found in black female adolescents and a high prevalence of poor dietary practices was observed, with significant gender and urban–rural differences.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish ambulant children with cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy may be at greater risk of being overweight or obese than their typically developed peers due to a number of biomechanical, behavioural, or medical issues that restrict participation. It has been a concern of our multi-disciplinary team that a greater number of children with cerebral palsy were presenting as overweight or obese. However, there are conflicting results in the literature as to prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity in these children. To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with cerebral palsy presenting to our movement analysis laboratory over a 20-year time period. A retrospective analysis was conducted of the laboratory database. Inclusion criteria were ambulatory children with a diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy aged between 4 and 17years inclusive. Height, weight, physical classification of cerebral palsy and functional level of impairment were extracted. Body mass index was calculated and data were analysed according to 4- × 5-year time periods. There were 1021 children included in this study. There were no significant findings for increasing trends of overweight and obesity across time. Prevalence of obesity and combined overweight and obesity in the most recent time period (2015-2019) was 7.1% and 20% respectively. Prevalence of overweight and obesity is not increasing in Irish ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. However, a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity was evident when compared with their typically developed Irish peers. It is therefore important that prevalence and trends are monitored.

Associations between rapid weight gain in infancy and weight status among urban Aboriginal children participating in the Gudaga study: nine-year results from a cohort study

BackgroundRapid weight gain (RWG) in infants is associated with overweight and obesity in childhood and beyond, highlighting the need for early intervention.MethodsData from a birth cohort of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in an urban area were analysed to determine the prevalence of RWG in infancy and the association between RWG and overweight and obesity, categorised using both body mass index and waist to height ratio from birth to 9 years.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity is higher in this cohort (at 47%) than the population average. The Australian population as a whole has seen steady increases. In this cohort although the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity remained relatively stable between 2 and 9 years, the proportion of children categorized as obese using BMI has increased. 42% of children who were overweight or obese at 9 years had experienced RWG in infancy. Children were 2.7 and 3.9 times more likely to be overweight at 9 years if they experienced RWG or were overweight at 2 years, respectively.ConclusionRWG was common in this cohort and the strongest predictor of excess weight at 2 years and at 9 years. Early intervention is crucial in the first year of life across the whole population to prevent obesity in children. Culturally appropriate interventions developed with the community are required for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and their parents.

Consumption of ultra-processed food products, diet quality and nutritional status among Mexican children

AbstractUltra-processed food consumption has increased in recent years. The evidence suggests a positive association between consumption of ultra-processed food consumption and low diet-quality and malnutrition, characterized by nutritional deficiencies and high prevalence of obesity and overweight. In México the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren is 33.2%, and ultra-processed food consumption varies from 40.4% to 81.5% depending on the product. The objective of this study was to describe the association between ultra-processed food consumption, diet-quality and nutritional status in Mexican schoolchildren. We analyzed dietetic and anthropometric data from 364 children (6–12 years) of two communities in the center of México. Four 3d-recalls (three days records followed up for ten months including weekdays and weekends) were used for data collection. Consumed foods were classified according to the level of processing using the NOVA classification. Portions of each food, dietary energy, macro and micronutrients intakes were calculated in accordance with the Mexican equivalent food system, nutrition labelling of each product and software Nutrimind® 15.0. Nutritional status was evaluated according to BMI categories; diet-quality was assessed calculating a dietary score. All data were adjusted by energy. In our study, 32% of foods consumed by schoolchildren were ultra-processed, 49% were minimally processed or unprocessed. 30% of the energy intake derived from ultra-processed foods (95% CI 29.2–33.2%). Major ultra-processed foods in habitual diet were bakery, pastries (23%), sugar-sweetened beverages (dairy and non-dairy) (22%), processed meat (18%), pizzas and pastas (9%), and canned vegetables (4%). Children in the highest quartile of ultra-processed foods consumption, presented lower diet-quality than those in the lowest quartile. In this group of children, 38.0% presented combined overweight or obesity, although there were no statistically significant differences between nutritional status and ultra-processed food consumption. Regular ultra-processed food consumption is associated with a lower diet quality in healthy schoolchildren. It is necessary to implement strategies to reduce intake of these products to avoid possible risks to health in early ages.

The association between anthropometric measures and physical performance in black adults of the North West Province, South Africa.

This study investigated associations between anthropometric measures and physical performance in black South African adults. It was hypothesized that noninvasive, simple anthropometric measurements, such as calf circumference (CC) and body mass index (BMI), may be useful predictors of physical performance and strength. Black human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative men and women (aged 32-93 years) participating in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study were enrolled at baseline in 2005 = 1428). Men and women's anthropometry, socio-demographics and physical activity (PA) were assessed at baseline, 5- and 10-year follow-up. Physical performance (walk speed, chair stand and handgrip strength [HGS]) were assessed at 10-year follow-up. Linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to evaluate the association between anthropometric measures and physical performance. The combined overweight and obesity prevalence among both men (P = .02) and women (P < .001) increased significantly over 10 years, with significant increases over time in BMI and CC in the women, whereas PA decreased significantly over time in both men and women (P < .0001). BMI and CC were positively associated with HGS in the men (P = .02, P < .0001) and women (P < .0001), while CC was positively associated with walk speed in men only (P = .006) in the cross-sectional analysis of 2015 measurements. BMI and CC in both men and women were positively associated with HGS, but CC was associated with walk speed in the men only. Our study suggests that CC may be a useful predictor of physical performance in black men and to a limited extent in black women.

Major Dietary Patterns in Relation to Overweight and Obesity Among Indigenous Tibetan Urban Settled Nomads (P10-081-19)

ObjectivesTo identify the major dietary patterns among indigenous Tibetan urban settled nomads on the Tibetan Plateau, and to investigate the association between overweight/obesity and the rapidly changing dietary patterns in this population. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 782 indigenous Tibetan adults (340 males and 442 females) aged 18–84 years was conducted in two urban settled Tibetan communities in 2018. Dietary assessments using food frequency questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were performed. Demographic and lifestyle factors were also asked in the survey. ResultsThe prevalence of general overweight and obesity (by BMI, China criteria) was 31.8% and 26.6%, respectively, and of central obesity (by waist, China criteria) was 40.7%. Three major dietary patterns were extracted using factor analysis: urban pattern, western pattern and traditional pattern. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals in the upper quintile of urban pattern were more likely to be general obesity (OR = 2.94, 95% CI 1.57–5.49) and central obesity (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.13–3.36); whereas those in the upper quintile of western pattern had greater odds for combined overweight and obesity (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.03–3.19). Traditional pattern was not associated with increased bodyweight or central obesity after adjustment. ConclusionsThe present pandemic of overweight and obesity among indigenous Tibetan urban settled nomads was associated with dietary transition in urbanization. Culture-adapted nutrition education is required for healthy eating among this population. Funding SourcesNational Natural Science Foundation of China.

Investigating the relationship between district-level socioeconomic status and individual obesity in Taiwanese adolescents: A large-scale cross-sectional analysis

The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity and to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity among adolescents in Taiwan, a transitioning country. Data from the Taiwan School Physical Fitness Database on 1,875,627 Taiwanese adolescents aged 10–18 years were analyzed. The average family income per household in each district was collected from the national statistical institutional database. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and mixed model analyses were used. The overall prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was 28.1%. The prevalence of overweight/obesity significantly differed according to gender and age. Furthermore, the average family income per household was negatively associated with the district-level prevalence of obesity. Additionally, when controlling for physical fitness, the average family income per household remained negatively associated with adolescent obesity. In addition, multilevel analysis was also applied to explore the relationship between district-level socioeconomic status and individual-level obesity to prevent the nested data structure from affecting the results. The results revealed that the average family income per household negatively correlated with individual obesity. These findings provide insight for public health officials into preventing and managing adolescent obesity.

Associations between combined overweight and obesity, lifestyle behavioural risk and quality of life among Australian regional school children: baseline findings of the Goulburn Valley health behaviours monitoring study

IntroductionHealth related quality of life is a multi-dimensional construct of particular interest in determining the consequences of illness and disease. This study aimed to determine the relationships between overweight/obesity, and associated obesogenic risk behaviours with health related quality of life and physical, social, emotional and school sub-domains, among a large cohort of Australian primary school children.MethodsThe data were derived from the Goulburn Valley Health Behaviours Monitoring study whereby a census-styled school recruitment process and high participatory opt-out (passive) procedure was employed. All primary schools in three Local Government Areas were invited to participate between July-September 2016 with 39/62 (62%) of schools participating and 1606/2034 (79%) students in Grade 2 (aged approx. 7-8 years), Grade 4 (aged approx. 9-10 years) and Grade 6 (aged approx. 11-12 years) participating. Measured height and weight were collected among participating students and older children (Grade 4 and 6) who also completed a self-report behavioural questionnaire, including the paediatric quality of life inventory.ResultsAmong 809 children aged 9 to 12 years, there were 219 (27.1%) classified as overweight/obese. Male children classified as overweight/obese reported significantly lower health related quality of life in the physical functioning and global functioning scores, compared to normal weight males. Significantly higher quality of life scores were observed among all children who met the physical activity recommendations on five out of the seven previous days. Significantly higher scores were observed among males adhering to the daily screen time recommendations, and among those meeting daily recommendations for fruit consumption. Among male school children, soft drink consumption was associated to lower health related quality of life.ConclusionAlthough cross-sectional, these findings highlight children with overweight/obesity and some underlying lifestyle behavioural risk factors, had significantly lower healthy-related quality of life, although this was observed most consistently among male school children. These findings have not previously been identified in young children and highlights the need to consider mental and emotional health in public health efforts to prevent obesity.Trial RegistrationANZCTR Trial Registry: ACTRN12616000980437 retrospectively registered 26 July 2016

The Influence of Body Mass Index at Diagnosis on Cognitive Decline in Parkinson's Disease.

Background and PurposeAssociations between alterations in body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated whether the BMI at a PD diagnosis is associated with cognitive decline and the future development of dementia.MethodsWe recruited 70 patients with de novo PD who underwent neuropsychological testing every 3 years and were followed up for more than 6 years. We classified patients into the following three groups based on their BMI at the diagnosis: under-/normal weight (n=21), overweight (n=22), and obese (n=27). We evaluated differences in the rate of cognitive decline over time among the groups using linear mixed models and the conversion rate to dementia using survival analysis.ResultsThe obese patients with PD showed a slower deterioration of global cognitive function as well as language and memory functions than did the under-/normal-weight group during the 6-year follow-up. The three BMI groups showed different rates of conversion to dementia (log-rank test: p=0.026). The combined overweight and obese group showed a lower risk of developing dementia compared with the under-/normal-weight group (hazard ratio= 0.36, 95% CI=0.12–0.82, p=0.046).ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that a higher-than-normal BMI at the time of a PD diagnosis has a protective effect against the deterioration of cognitive function and the conversion to dementia.

Overweight and obesity in children treated for congenital heart disease

IntroductionThe negative impact of overweight and obesity is potentially greater in children affected by a congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study is to calculate the proportion of overweight and obesity in children who underwent an intervention for CHD, and to investigate systolic arterial hypertension as a possible early cardiovascular complication. Patients and methodsA retrospective study was conducted on patients aged 6–17 years treated for CHD, and healthy control subjects, followed-up in a Paediatric Cardiology Clinic. Body mass index percentiles were calculated according to the criteria of WHO. A review was performed on the anthropometric and clinical data, as well as the systolic blood pressure (SBP). ResultsA total of 440 patients were included, of which 220 had CHD. The proportion of combined obesity and overweight (body mass index percentile ≥85) was 36.4% (37.3% in healthy subjects and 35.4% in patients with CHD, P=.738). A higher prevalence of obesity (body mass index percentile ≥97) was found in CHD patients (22.7%) compared to 15.5% in healthy subjects (P=.015). SBP percentiles were higher in overweight compared to normal-weight patients (P<.001). The prevalence of SBP readings≥the 95th percentile was greater in overweight than in normal weight CHD patients (29.5% versus 7.7%, P<.001) and also in the overweight healthy controls compared to those of normal weight (12.2% versus 0.7%, P<.001). ConclusionsThe proportion of obesity is high in children treated for CHD and it is associated with high SBP levels. The risk of long-term complications needs to be reduced by means of prevention and treatment of obesity in this vulnerable population.

The joint associations of weight status and physical activity with mobility disability: The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the joint associations of weight status and physical activity with mobility disability in older men and women. We analyzed prospective data from 135,220 participants in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study between 1995-1996 and 2004-2005. Height and weight, as well as light- and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity typical of the past 10 years (h/week) were self-reported at baseline, and body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) was categorized into normal weight (BMI 18 to <25 kg/m2); overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m2); and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Mobility was assessed by self-report at follow-up and mobility disability was defined as reporting "unable to walk" or an "easy usual walking pace (<2 mph)". Multivariable logistic regression determined the independent and joint associations of weight status and total physical activity with the odds of mobility disability. Twenty-one percent of men and 37% of women reported a mobility disability at follow-up. We observed a curvilinear dose-response association between increasing categories of weight status and mobility disability within each tertile of physical activity, with the highest odds experienced by men and women with overweight (OR = 2.45; 95%CI: 2.25, 2.67 for men and OR = 2.99; 95%CI: 2.78, 3.22 for women) and obesity (OR = 3.93; 95%CI: 3.58, 4.32 for men and OR = 5.08; 95% CI: 4.65, 5.54 for women) in combination with low physical activity. Moreover, among those reporting 7 or fewer hours/week of total physical activity, being of normal body weight did not eliminate the excess odds of mobility disability. These findings highlight the combined importance of obesity prevention and physical activity promotion to mobility in older age. Given aging demographics and the global economic burden associated with aging- and disuse-related disability, there is tremendous public health benefit to understanding how various modifiable determinants of mobility disability can interact in older age.

Body composition and physical activity as mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic status and blood pressure in young South African women: a structural equation model analysis

ObjectivesVarying hypertension prevalence across different socioeconomic strata within a population has been well reported. However, the causal factors and pathways across different settings are less clear, especially in sub-Saharan Africa....

Predictors of Overweight and Obesity in American Indian Families With Young Children

ObjectiveTo describe sociodemographic factors and health behaviors among American Indian (AI) families with young children and determine predictors of adult and child weight status among these factors. DesignDescriptive, cross-sectional baseline data. SettingOne urban area and 4 rural AI reservations nationwide. ParticipantsA total of 450 AI families with children aged 2–5 years participating in the Healthy Children, Strong Families 2 intervention. InterventionBaseline data from a healthy lifestyles intervention. Main Outcome MeasuresChild body mass index (BMI) z-score and adult BMI, and multiple healthy lifestyle outcomes. AnalysisDescriptive statistics and stepwise regression. ResultsAdult and child combined overweight and obesity rates were high: 82% and 40%, respectively. Food insecurity was high (61%). Multiple lifestyle behaviors, including fruit and vegetable and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, adult physical activity, and child screen time, did not meet national recommendations. Adult sleep was adequate but children had low overnight sleep duration of 10 h/d. Significant predictors of child obesity included more adults in the household (P = .003; β = 0.153), an adult AI caregiver (P = .02; β = 0.116), high adult BMI (P = .001; β = 0.176), gestational diabetes, high child birth weight (P < .001; β = 0.247), and the family activity and nutrition score (P = .04; β = 0.130). Conclusions and ImplicationsWe found multiple child-, adult-, and household-level factors influence early childhood obesity in AI children, highlighting the need for interventions to mitigate the modifiable factors identified in this study, including early life influences, home environments, and health behaviors.

20-year trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 0-6 in Harbin, China: A multiple cross-sectional study.

To examine the 20-year trends in the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 0–6 years between 1995 and 2015 in Harbin, China, we selected altogether 49,553 children aged 0–6 years old by using a multistage stratified cluster sampling methods in Harbin, one provincial capital city in northeast China in 1995, 2005 and 2015. Height and weight information of the children were collected. We used the child growth standards of World Health Organization to calculate the Z-scores for body mass index (BMI). Cut-offs recommended by World Health Organization and International Obesity Task Force were used to define overweight and obesity for each children. We found there is no difference between boys’ BMI and girls’ among newborns in each survey point (p>0.05), but in older age groups, the BMI of boys was higher than that of girls (p<0.05). From 1995 to 2015, the average BMI was increasing continuously among boys older than 42 months and girls older than 48 months (p<0.01 for linear trend across year) in Harbin. The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 2.6% in 1995 to 7.6% in 2015. For every 10-year the risk of combined overweight and obesity in children aged 0–6 years increased by 167% (95%CI: 146%, 188%, p<0.01). The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in most age subgroups showed an increasing trend over time (p<0.01 for trend test across survey year). The age when the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity dramatically increased was earlier in 2015 than that in 2005 and 1995. In conclusion, there was an increasing trend of the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity during the past 20 years in Harbin and the age when the prevalence dramatically increased became earlier. Comprehensive intervention should be undertaken among younger children to prevent and control children’s overweight and obesity.

Trends in Obesity, Overweight, and Thinness in Children in the Seychelles Between 1998 and 2016.

This study assessed trends in the prevalence of children and adolescents with obesity, overweight, and thinness in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing nation in the Indian Ocean, and changes in the distribution of BMI over time. Between 1998 and 2016, examination surveys were conducted every year in all students of four selected school grades (kindergarten, primary 4, secondary 1, and secondary 4) in all schools. We categorized BMI by using the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Based on 70,187 observations, the prevalence of combined overweight or obesity increased largely and monotonically between 1998 and 2016, from 8.9% to 20.0% in boys and from 12.3% to 23.6% in girls, but the prevalence of underweight did not decrease. BMI increased mostly in the upper range of the BMI population distribution: percentile 5 (P5), -1.7%; P10, -0.8%; P25, 0.3%; P50, 2.5%; P75, 7.4%; P90, 12.7%; and P95, 13.3%. The distribution of BMI was increasingly skewed, with a rising prevalence of obesity, a modest or null increase in BMI in a substantial proportion of the population, and a continued burden of underweight. Further studies should assess child growth trajectories and their underlying determinants, which may bear significance for weight control strategies.

The Analysis of Computer Data regarding Obesity and Associated Diseases in Cats Examined at Private Veterinary Practices

Background: Cats can be defined as being overweight if their bodyweight is 15% above optimum weight and classified as obese if they are more than 30% above their optimum weight. There is a general agreement among investigators that the incidence of excess body weight in cats is increasing. Obesity has considerable impacts on the health of cats and is linked to a variety of health issues including orthopedic disease, diabetes mellitus and non-allergic skin conditions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and associated diseases in cats examined at some veterinary practices in Istanbul-Turkey.Materials, Methods &amp; Results: Data of 2,272 patients examined at four private veterinary practices in Istanbul was studied to reveal the association between body weight and diseases. Information regarding sex, age and neutering status was also considered for each patient. Patients were classified according to their body weight to three groups as lightweight (female: 3.0 kg and under, male: 4.5 kg and under), optimum -weight (female: 3.0-4.5 kg, male: 4.5-5.5 kg) and overweight/obese (female: 4.5 kg and over, male: 5.5 kg and over). Accounting all adult cats treated by the clinics, diagnoses of osteoarthritis, heart diseases, dermatological diseases, hepatic lipidosis, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, gastrointestinal diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, neoplasia and urinary diseases were statistically evaluated. Considering data coming from 2,272 cats, which were referred to veterinary practices, 33.12%, were classified as overweight-obese, 40.04% were optimum-weight and 26.84% were lightweight. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to other groups (P &lt; 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P &lt; 0.05).Discussion: Obesity in cats is very common and the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity has been reported on a range from 20% to 40% in developed countries. Associated with the increasing welfare, as in humans, the incidence of obesity in the pet population is also increasing. The data studied for this research was evaluated with regard to diseases associated with obesity. It was determined that overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hepatic lipidosis compared to the other groups (P &lt; 0.05). Overweight-obese cats were more likely to be diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and neoplasia compared to lightweight cats (P &lt; 0.05). However, an association between overweight or obesity and heart disease, metabolic syndrome - diabetes mellitus, lameness, musculoskeletal disease or urinary diseases was not found. A percentage of 19.95 of the patients over 2 years of age were classified in the overweight-obese group. These findings require that weight gain needs to be prevented before the animals reach obese status. Dietary management and physical exercise are essential for managing obesity in pets. In this study, it was aimed to explain the importance of weight management in preventing overweight or obesity associated diseases to cat owners by using the results, which demonstrate that overweight or obese animals are statistically more likely to develop associated diseases. Veterinary practitioners can also use this data to strongly advocate for the maintenance of feline patients at ideal body condition.

Estimation of body fat among 2-to-7-year-old Spanish children by different skinfolds equations and waist-to-height ratio.

It seems relevant to analyze the body composition in the early childhood. However, there is not an agreement in the protocol to assess body composition in this age range/group. To determine the most useful equation to estimate the body fat percentage that preschool children contain and the utility of the waist-to-height ratio to determine abdominal obesity. We measured (weight, height, waist circumference and skinfolds) in 285 children aged 2 to 7 years old. BMI Z-Score, waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage were estimated by Brook and Lukaski, Siri, Goran, Slaughter, Deurenberg, Huang, Dezenberg and Hoffman equations. It was found 26% combined overweight and obesity, with similar distribution in both sexes. The body fat obtained with the Hoffman equation (15.6-31.9%) showed the highest correlation with children BMI Z-Score. Waist-to-height ratio also presented a good relationship with children weight status. There were not significant differences between gender and body fat percentage or waist-to-height ratio. Hoffman equation and waist-to-height ratio could be adequate to estimate body fat percentage and abdominal obesity respectively in Spanish preschool children from medium-low socioeconomic status.

Association Between the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism and Overweight/Obesity in Pediatric Population

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265 (G196A; Val66Met) single nucleotide polymorphism has been associated with BMI and obesity in distinct populations, both adult and pediatric, with contradictory results involving either Val or Met as the risk variant. To determine the association between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and BMI in Mexican children and adolescents. BDNF Val66Met genotyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism and nutritional status characterized by their BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) from pediatric volunteers (n=498) were analyzed by Fisher's exact test association analysis. Standardized residuals (R) were used to determine which genotype/allele had the major influence on the significant Fisher's exact test statistic. Odds ratios were analyzed to measure the association between genotype and normal weight (≥-2 SD<+ 1 SD) and overweight (≥+ 1 SD, including obesity, Ow+Ob) status with 95% confidence intervals to estimate the precision of the effect as well as 95% credible intervals to obtain the most probable estimate. Comparisons between GG (Val/Val), GA (Val/Met) and AA (Met/Met) genotypes or Met homozygotes vs. Val carriers (combination of GG and GA genotypes) showed significant differences (p=0.034 and p=0.037, respectively) between normal weight and the combined overweight and obese pediatric subjects. Our data showed that children/adolescents homozygous for the A allele have increased risk of overweight compared to the Val carriers (Bayes OR=4.2, 95% CI**[1.09-33.1]). This is the first study showing the significant association between the BDNF rs6265 AA (Met/Met) genotype and overweight/obesity in Mexican pediatric population.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 15.8 million men aged 15\u201349 years in rural China from 2010 to 2014

Obesity has been increasing worldwide. Data on obesity status among men of reproductive age are scarce. This study aimed to assess the national prevalence and trend of overweight and obesity among reproductive-age men in rural China. In the nationwide population-based study, data were obtained from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in rural China from 2010 to 2014. Weight and height were measured in 16 161 982 men aged 15–49 years and their female partners (15 997 739 participants aged 15–49 years) before conception, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. We found that the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity among men was 33.8% (33.7–33.9%) according to Chinese criteria (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2), the corresponding rates of obesity were 6.3% (6.2–6.4%; BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2), respectively. The prevalence varied in different ethnic groups, geographic regions, age, education and GDP levels, and increasing trend was observed over the 5-year study period. In addition, 45.8% of couples had at least one of them as overweight or obesity. About one third of men aged 15–49 years before conception in rural China are overweight or obese. Overweight/obesity clusters in families, which highlights the importance of family involvement of early prevention of obesity in China.

An intervention to promote physical activity in Mexican elementary school students: building public policy to prevent noncommunicable diseases.

Physical activity is an important component of strategies for health promotion and prevention of noncommunicable diseases. It is also associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese adults and children. This article addresses the initial description of a physical activity intervention for children attending public elementary schools in Mexico. The objective was to develop a replicable model based on a strategic public, private, academic, and social partnership that would have a short-term impact on the metabolic health of children and be useful for building effective public policy. Forty-nine schools (20000 students) participated, and 5 schools were selected for evaluation. The intervention included a 30-minute supervised middle-effort interchangeable routine, 5 days a week for a complete school year, adapted for different school conditions and students of different ages. Evaluation included anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers. Actual prevalence of combined overweight and obesity in these children was 31.9%. The intervention was successfully implemented in all schools. No change in body mass index, waist circumference, or other anthropometric indicators was found. However, changes in biochemical markers showed a significant decrease in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and cholesterol-low-density lipoproteins, reflecting a positive effect on cardiovascular health indicators.